Verizon Executive to Deliver Opening Keynote Address at Smart Grid Summit in Los Angeles

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TMC today announced that Ernie Lewis, industry partner with Verizon's Global Energy & Utility Practice, will deliver the opening keynote address at their Smart Grid Summit conference in Los Angeles. Mr. Lewis’ speech, set for 11:00 a.m. PST, October 4, will discuss how technology is changing the game for utilities and communications and how the two industries can work together to bring about a Smart Grid evolution.

“We are pleased to have Verizon’s thought leadership part of this industry advancing conversation.”

Mr. Lewis will draw upon his more than 25 years of executive leadership experience working for a Fortune 100 electric utility in the United States to share insight into the expanding opportunities presented by new Smart Grid technologies and solutions. In his role at Verizon, Lewis is focused on helping organizations address industry-specific challenges, including smart grid transformation, data management and security, and customer service improvement. Verizon’s Global Energy and Utility practice combines advanced network solutions with expert IT consulting expertise to help utilities put technology, people and processes to work better for their business.

“This rare combination of IT and utility experience provides a perfect fit with the Smart Grid Summit, which focuses on how IP communications technologies are making utilities more efficient,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC.

The Smart Grid Summit, produced by TMC in conjunction with Crossfire Media and Intelligent Communication Partners, is the first event of its kind to address the intersection of two core economic building blocks – utilities and communications. The event will foster knowledge and understanding of the role that IP communications technologies will play in how the Smart Grid evolves across these industries. This includes lessons from making utilities more efficient, to ways to enable the Smart Home.

“This conference is designed to cultivate more communication and collaboration across our two industries,” said Ernie Lewis. “The convergence of operating, information and communication technologies will accelerate the transformation of the utility industry in significant ways. It is much more than a smart meter, it is about a smarter way of running utilities and advancing customer interaction.”

“The goal of the Smart Grid Summit is to help telecom and smart grid communities create new opportunities and drive innovation with communications technologies,” said Jon Arnold, founder of ICP, and co-producer of the Smart Grid Summit. “We are pleased to have Verizon’s thought leadership part of this industry advancing conversation.”

Registration for the Smart Grid Summit is now open. Members of the media can reserve media credentials by contacting Todd Keefe at todd@firpr.com. Vendors interested in exhibit and sponsorship opportunities should contact Joe Fabiano.

About TMC:

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) is a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in person and online. TMC publishes Customer Interaction Solutions, INTERNET TELEPHONY, Unified Communications, and NGN magazines. TMCnet, TMC's Web site, is the leading source of news and articles for the communications and technology industries. TMCnet is read by two million unique visitors each month on average worldwide, according to Webtrends. TMCnet has ranked within the top 3,500 in Quantcast's Top U.S. sites, placing TMCnet in the nation’s top .03% most visited Web sites. In addition, TMC produces ITEXPO; 4GWE Conference and M2M Evolution (in conjunction with Crossfire Media); Digium|Asterisk World (in conjunction with Digium); and Smart Grid Summit (in conjunction with Intelligent Communication Partners). TMC serves other communications market segments with the Cloud Communications Summit (in conjunction with Light and Electric); CVx ChannelVision Expo (in conjunction with Beka Publishing); and MSPWorld™ (in conjunction with the MSP Alliance).

TMC also serves technology professionals with industry-specific Web sites: InfoTech Spotlight, 4GWE, M2M Evolution.com, Smart-Grid.TMCnet.com, Smart Products Ecosystem, Robotics.TMCnet.com, Cable.TMCnet.com, Satellite Spotlight, Green.TMCnet.com, Healthcare.TMCnet.com, and Education.TMCnet.com.

About Intelligent Communications Partners:

Intelligent Communications Partners (ICP) is a strategic advisory consultancy focused on the emerging Smart Grid opportunity. ICP was founded by Jon Arnold, a renowned analyst who focuses on integrating the worlds of telecom, IT and energy into Smart Grid opportunities. For more information, contact info@icpstrategies.com.

About Verizon:

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.